Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BEAR-TREE, Beir-tree, n. (See second quot.)Sc. 1708 M. Bruce Lectures and Sermons, etc. 50:
Some say, if they were in prison two or three days, they would be to carry out on their Bear-trees.Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
Bear-tree, Beir-tree. Perhaps, a spoke used for carrying the dead to the place of interment. Beir-tree, however, signifies the bier itself, Aberd.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Bear-tree n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/beartree>
